v8eater

I just posted a few pics of my rack in my photo album. Right now it just tack welded and the lights are mounted on a piece of wood.
My question.....is it too big? I didn't look big as I was making it. Still have to weld tabs for the 4 front lights and 2 rear along with mounting tabs.

Take a look at the rack in my album and comments are welcomed.
Thanks, James L.

xjbones

i am personally not a fan of racks as i have a tall jeep and i just dont like the look of them. i also drive in parking garages alot.

on a side note..........your rack looks great!! your quality and attention to detail seem to be above par for the home fabricator.

good work man!!!

p.s. yes, its too big....lol<<<<<<<j/k but its big!!

what kind of tubing is that?

josh kilgore

yes it looks way too big. if you take that slant off the front of it it may look ok and painting it black will be alot better right now it is drawing way to much attention. i am also trying to make one for mine but i havent started yet. still looking for ideas.

big95xj

I dont care for it but i dont like racks on XJ that much either. It is a little on the large side. And liek already said you did a very good job on it. I would think maybe if it wasnt so tall it would look a little better.

On the other hand i do like big racks...just not on jeeps....

NewXJaddict

Looks pretty solid and well built. A bit tall for my personal taste but hey, if it suits the purpose then its all good. Paint it black for sure. Good work!

v8eater

Thanks for the comments guys. Rack is made out of 1" EMT and bent with a conduit bender. I decided that I will go ahead and finish it like it is and paint it black.
I have nothing money wise in this rack other than my time. Maybe after I build my front bumper, rear bumper with tire carrier, sliders and skids it won't look as big. Also tires ..... after we get Christmas paid off.

James L.

tripbarb

i think it looks great man just like it is and amen on getting christmas paid off cause when u have kids you tend to get last christmas paid off in time for this christmas

thebrow89

i think it looks great. i have a rack thats tall to tho. but i keep my spare on the roof and its like 12in wide. and the slant in front is definitly a good thing to keep the lights safe. i had my lights open and exposed on to and kept breakin lenses. i finally did the same. o and i would use bed liner instead of just paint. i have painted mine like 3 times and the trees just tear it right back off

Cheap$200Jeep

I don't even have the factory rack but I have been watching posts like this and stock piling ideas for what I want to do. I like your idea of using a light weight pipe because I think I will make mine removable and don't want too much weight...

What do you think of using additional support, to the roof, down the centerline? I was thinking it would help with load dispersment to the roof and prevent the rack from bending if you realy load it up...

Ritter4.0

The roof would definitly cave if you did that.

Just make the "floor" of the rack out of heavier stuff, and the sides out of lighter stuff. Add plenty of gutter mounts and you should be good.

jakedalton

It's not my taste but it looks like you did a helluva job on the fab work!!! Looks like quality stuff. Definitely paint it black though.

xjrev10

very nice craftsmanship

Cheap$200Jeep

I guess I am having a hard time wraping my brain around that. Why would the roof cave if you split the distribution of weight to three runs down the length of the roof instead of just two? The only thing I can think of is the center of roof not being as stiff...

mike mike

The edges of the roof are stronger and stiffer than the center. If you run supports down the center when the center of the rack bows under load it will push down on the roof. If you were chattering down a washboard road with a load in the rack. the load will weight and unweighted the rack floor causing the the rack to pull the roof up and down in the center.

t_bird83

Nice job on the bending. Are you planning to mount it to the side rails?